Compare towns
Hudson vs Stow vs Bolton vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hudson | Stow | Bolton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
7,165 |
5,737 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Nashoba | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.